Srinagar, Mar 24: Jammu and Kashmir government said on Monday that it is rejuvenating and enhancing saffron production through the implementation of the National Saffron Mission.
Responding to a query from MLA Justice Hasnain Masoodi, the Agriculture Production Minister, said the government is focused on rejuvenating and improving the productivity of saffron cultivation through the National Mission on Saffron, emphasizing value addition, geographical indication (G.I.) certification and boosting exports.
“The saffron industry has stabilized since the launch of the National Mission on Saffron. The area under cultivation has remained at 3,715 hectares since 2010-11, and while productivity faced declines due to natural weather-related vagaries in 2014-15, 2017-18, and 2018-19, it has generally improved, leading to increased production and exports,” he said.
He added that saffron production recorded 17.33 MT in 2021, followed by 14.87 MT in 2022 and 14.97 MT in 2023, with export values of up to Rs 272 crores, Rs 235 crores and Rs 262 crores, respectively.
“Around 2,598 hectares of land have been rejuvenated for saffron production in the past three years, while the traditional area under saffron cultivation is 1,116 hectares,” the minister added.
The government said a comprehensive study conducted by SKUAST-K in 2010 indicated a decline in saffron cultivation areas in Kashmir, attributed to low benefit-cost ratios, expensive cultivation costs, low productivity (1.27 kg/ha in 2000-01), traditional farming methods, biotic and abiotic stresses, and changes in weather patterns resulting in moisture stress at critical growth stages.
“This led to decreased interest among farmers in pursuing saffron cultivation. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India, introduced the “Economic Revival of the Saffron Sector in J&K” program based on the SKUAST-K study in 2010-11,” it said. “As a result, 2,573.73 hectares have been rejuvenated out of 3,715 hectares, leading to productivity increases from 2.50 kg/ha (in 2009-10) to as high as 5.14 kg/ha in 2020-21 and 4.42 kg/ha in 2022-23 in the rejuvenated areas.”